PA Mayor & Gov. to ban guns & ammo ignore state preemption

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Bruenor
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Location: Geneva, OH

PA Mayor & Gov. to ban guns & ammo ignore state preemption

Post by Bruenor »

Laws be damned.. the anti-gunners don't care about laws they don't like. Looks like the PA FOAC-PAC has a fight on it's hands.
The 500 thousand Bloomburg contributed towards PA Governor Wolf's campaign, was apparently well spent, looks like Bloomburg got what he paid for.

https://triblive.com/local/allegheny/14 ... eapons-ban" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was joined by Gov. Tom Wolf, members of City Council and state Democratic lawmakers Friday in proposing legislation that would ban semiautomatic rifles and certain ammunition and firearms accessories within city limits.

Citing the 11 people killed in the Oct. 27 mass shooting at Squirrel Hill’s Tree of Life synagogue, Peduto said the ban is necessary to protect the safety and welfare of Pittsburgh residents. He vowed to build a coalition among municipalities and residents across the nation to fend off legal challenges from gun rights activists that are certain to come. Peduto said he’s written letters to more than 100 cities seeking support.
Kim Stolfer, president of the statewide group Firearm Owners Against Crime, cited a state law prohibiting counties and municipalities from regulating “the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited” in Pennsylvania.

Stolfer said the group would sue the city if it enacts the bills.
Legislation proposed in Pittsburgh would ban the manufacture, sale, purchase, transportation, carry, storage or possession of assault weapons within the city. A second bill would ban certain ammunition for semiautomatic rifles, including explosive and armor piercing bullets. It would ban accessories, including large magazines and bump stocks that allow rapid fire similar to automatic weapons.

A third bill would permit courts to temporarily prohibit a person deemed at risk by police or family members from possessing a gun.

The bills would exempt law enforcement officers and people who carry guns for an official duty, museums and guns used as theater or film props.
https://foac-pac.org/Sides-Prep-For-Gun ... -Item/9010" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Four gun rights advocates sat in the front row of council chambers and video recorded on their phones Tuesday as Pittsburgh City Council formally introduced three gun-control measures that could result in legal action against the city.

The bills, jointly sponsored by seven council members and the mayor’s office, aim to ban assault-style weapons, prohibit some types of ammunition, and allow police to seize weapons from people who pose an “extreme risk” to themselves and others.
In a letter sent to members of city council and Mr. Peduto on Monday, attorney Joshua Prince said he had been retained regarding the firearm proposals on behalf of FOAC and the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League.

The letter outlined the groups' legal arguments: that Pennsylvania law states that no municipality may regulate firearms or ammunition. That has been interpreted by the state Supreme Court, according to Mr. Prince, to mean that only the General Assembly can regulate firearms.
Council members Darlene Harris and Teresa Kail-Smith, initially listed as co-sponsors of the bills with all other council members, pulled their names from sponsorship until they hear more from their constituents, they said.

“I want to make sure this is legal,” Ms. Harris said. “I don’t want the taxpayers to have to pay for another lawsuit, or three. I need to know that if I’m voting on something, that it's going to be upheld by the police and by the court system.”
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"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."

- Thomas Paine

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- Thomas Jefferson
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